Archive for category: Consulting / Assessment

Do You Need an Environmental Assessment? Here’s Why Demand is Increasing  

Environmental assessments are increasingly in demand as property purchases and commercial and industrial redevelopment surges.

As the economy accelerates and property buying increases, many developers are turning to environmental assessments to ensure due diligence. But it’s not simply by choice – it has been a standard practice for banks to require these assessments before approving – or refinancing – loans.

Both private and industrial properties have experienced increasingly high demand over the past year, leading many developers to purchase and utilize so-called brownfield sites – or previously developed land that may be contaminated – to construct warehousing space. This trend is just one of many developments increasing the demand for environmental site assessments.

What Is an Environmental Assessment?

Environmental assessments are performed in phases beginning with a determination of whether a property has any recognized environmental concerns (RECs) and if so, to characterize the severity of environmental risk, known toxins onsite and extent of contamination. Phase I, II, and III assessments are available depending on the type, location, and risk of your property.

A Phase I environmental site assessment is the first step when conducting a real estate or business transaction as well as purchasing or leasing land, buildings, or businesses.

In Phase I, experts at Omega Environmental Services Inc. investigate how properties have been used over time and if environmental hazards or RECs are present. In the case of brownfield sites, Phase I, Phase II and Phase III assessments will most likely be needed.

OSHA defines a brownfield as a property where the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of it may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Under the EPA’s Brownfield Program, grants and loans help pay for the assessments and cleanup of such sites.

In June 2021,  the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $11.6 million in supplemental funding for the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites this year.

Gas Station Use, Underground Tanks and Dry Cleaning Chemicals

Properties adjacent to military bases, manufacturing facilities, dry cleaning sites, or gas stations are vulnerable to contamination. The purpose of a Phase I Assessment is to determine whether RECs exist on a site.

Did the property have exposure to dry cleaning chemicals, petroleum-based products, metals, or other contaminants? Did it contain underground or above-ground storage tanks filled with chemicals or clarifiers for wastewater treatment?

An environmental assessment will identify potential environmental impacts on property to petroleum products, PCBs, radiological hazards, metals, volatile compounds, solvents, pesticides, asbestos, lead, and mold or other contaminants.

Soil and Water Tests are Part of Phase II Assessments

If the Phase I Assessment determines that the site has a history that may have resulted in exposure to environmental hazards, a Phase II Assessment is conducted and includes:

• Subsurface soil sampling
• Subsurface water sampling
• Testing of soil around aboveground and underground storage tanks
• Sampling of contents of drums left on the site

Laboratory analysis of samples taken during this assessment will determine if further investigation is necessary. If hazardous materials are discovered on-site during this stage, a Phase III assessment may be required.

Phase III Assessment Finds Extent of Damage

The Phase III Assessment will further characterize the extent of the contamination.

During a Phase III assessment, Omega’s experts will devise a remedial action plan (RAP) that follows federal, state, and local guidelines as well as addresses the clients’ needs. We look for the most feasible and efficient solution for your RAP. Phase III Assessment includes:

• Determination of vertical and lateral extent of contamination
• Soil vapor monitoring
• Groundwater monitoring
• Removal of impacted soil media
• Installation of remedial equipment (vapor extraction systems)

The professionals at Omega have decades of experience performing this crucial environmental due diligence. As a full-service environmental management and consulting firm, Omega performs assessments to ensure compliance with ASTM, DTSC, CRWQCB, and CERCLA AAI standards.

Avoid costly and time-consuming environmental liability with careful and cost-effective due diligence. Contact us today to schedule an environmental site assessment to evaluate your property.

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How Assessment by Certified Industrial Hygienists Can Protect the Manufacturing Workplace

Few workplace safety measures are as cost-effective in the manufacturing environment as an industrial hygiene assessment.

A high-quality industrial hygiene assessment leaves you secure in the knowledge that any potentially hazardous exposure to your workers will be identified and addressed, with a complete and cost-effective plan for mitigating hazards and preventing health risks to exposed workers.

These assessments can include a comprehensive array of tools, including visual inspection, air quality and hazardous material testing, as well as personal sampling to determine individual exposure levels and risks. Additionally, a review of existing health and safety programs can be a valuable component of an industrial hygiene assessment in a manufacturing facility to identify weaknesses in safety measures and regulatory compliance at the facility.

Preventive industrial hygiene measures are an effective way to maintain the ongoing safety of the workplace and reduce your exposure to costly workers’ compensation claims as well as the risk of fines and shutdowns associated with violations of regulatory bodies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Cal-OSHA.

Manufacturing workers can be exposed to many physical or chemical hazards which may result in both acute and chronic health effects. A properly conducted IH assessment can address a wide range of workplace safety issues including:

• To identify or to rule out a source of specific health complaints
• To establish the best processes and procedures when a new chemical or process is introduced
• To determine workers’ exposure to a potentially hazardous agent on site
• To identify and eliminate unsafe working conditions or unhealthy exposure to harmful substances, excess noise and light, unsafe ergonomic conditions, and more
• To determine the most effective hazard control protocols at a given site
• To provide documentation of workplace safety compliance
• To establish proper administrative and/or engineering controls to reduce or eliminate potential exposures

In most cases, an industrial hygiene assessment can be completed over the course of one work day. The resulting report will include guidance around any additional measures needed to ensure worker safety. These measures may include engineering controls like additional ventilation and exhaust equipment, administrative controls like adjustments to work schedules to limit exposure duration, and the use of personal protective equipment like respirators, eye protection, gloves and coveralls.

Exposure Monitoring for a Comprehensive Range of Manufacturing Hazards

At Omega, our assessment methodologies are developed by experts that include Certified Industrial Hygienists and PhD level Toxicologists and microbial experts. Using state-of-the-art monitoring and sampling equipment, we can provide sensitive measurements and analysis for a wide variety of potential hazards, including:

• IAQ assessment for aerosolized particulates
• Personal exposure monitoring for VOCs, dust, airborne metals, asbestos fibers, oils, mists, and more
• Light and noise exposure assessment
• Heat stress & confined spaces
• Ergonomic and work-station assessments
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) Assessment, including respirator fit testing

The Advantages of Working with An Experienced Environmental Partner

The experts at Omega Environmental have decades of experience in exposure monitoring in a variety of manufacturing settings. One aerospace client recently did a preventive assessment by monitoring employees over one shift to determine their exposure levels to different chemicals present in a spray paint booth.

We use multiple independent laboratories that provide fast and reliable analytical data.

Since each manufacturing setting is unique, Omega will identify potential hazards and create a customized plan for mitigation if needed, to ensure the most cost-effective solution. A comprehensive industrial hygiene assessment ensures that manufacturing and production facilities maintain a safe workplace and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and standards.

Reliable and professional, we are a full-service environmental engineering firm with a deep roster of highly-trained experts and decades of experience in helping manufacturers and other business owners eliminate workplace safety concerns.

Give us a call or click on the link below to learn how we can help you.

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Breathe Easy with an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan

An Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management plan monitors and maintains the safety of a building’s interior ambient air environment, mitigating risks of mold, moisture, aerosolized chemicals, airborne dust, nuisance odors and more for ongoing assurance of clean air.

IAQ management programs offer practical and cost-effective solutions to complicated indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues. Dust, chemical agents, asbestos, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), among other pollutants, are commonly found in office buildings, apartment complexes, community centers, educational institutions, and more.

Preventing and mitigating these issues starts with a comprehensive IAQ plan.

Common Contaminants of Indoor Air Quality

Construction, renovation, installation of new furniture or carpet other building products (drywall, paints and more), and the use of new chemical cleaning products are just a few potential activities that may negatively impact indoor air quality. These actions may generate aerosolized dust, VOCs, asbestos fibers, or other hazards. Some electronic appliances, such as printers and office equipment, release ozone in low concentrations that – if not properly ventilated – can become harmful or elicit adverse health effects.

Without routine interior building inspections, plumbing for kitchens, bathrooms, and emergency fire suppression sprinkler systems can leak, causing moisture intrusion and the potential for mold growth. Exterior building inspections include landscape sprinkler systems, windows, building sill plate foundations and roofs. Additionally, bathroom facilities, drains, and sinks can be a source of hydrogen sulfide – a sulfuric gas smelling of rotten eggs – that, at high concentrations, can negatively affect health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, heightened numbers of employees are working from home, leading to vacant buildings that may not be properly monitored for potential IAQ issues.  Building water systems that are left stagnant for extended periods have the potential to accumulate Legionella bacteria, which may cause mild to severe respiratory illness in susceptible individuals that are exposed upon the reoccupation of buildings.

Another potential source of poor IAQ during building closures include HVAC air filtration systems that are in need of maintenance or repair. Air filters should be replaced and upgraded to a higher filtration efficiency in order to mitigate contaminated indoor air. Settled dust in HVAC ductwork or above ceiling plenum systems when back in operation could impact indoor air quality. Indoor air may also be impacted by chemical contaminants from cleaning products, or improperly stored chemicals.

A comprehensive IAQ management plan will include inspection of HVAC systems, airflow, building water systems, and other building components and factors that can impact the indoor environment. For best results, property managers will want to perform monthly to quarterly IAQ assessments.

Maintaining Clean Air for Public Venues

Among other recent projects, Omega has worked to design customized IAQ plans for public performing arts venues to ensure the safety of employees, patrons and performers in 2021.

In addition to COVID-19 disinfection protocols and IAQ management, many facilities also require a plan for monitoring mold and moisture content.

Environmental Experts Can Monitor Ongoing Air Quality

At Omega Environmental, our team of industry veteran scientists, toxicologists, industrial hygienists, and environmental consultants work together to identify and mitigate hazards. We utilize both direct read instrumentation and independent, accredited laboratories to provide accurate results to clients on time-sensitive projects.

Our IAQ Management plan provides ongoing services for:

• Sick building syndrome evaluations
• Microbial sampling and analysis
• Water damage and microbial evaluations
• Mold remediation project design and oversight
• Dust mitigation plans
• Proactive IEQ management plans
• Customized IEQ training programs
• Operations and Maintenance
• Sewer Gas and other nuisance odor monitoring
• Traditional industrial hygiene investigations

Building air quality is critical to the health and safety of occupants; with an IAQ management plan, building owners can mitigate potential risks associated with the buildup of toxins indoors. A comprehensive IAQ management plan will include best practices for existing in-house janitorial or maintenance personnel. The program will also develop a plan to manage processes with potentially significant pollution sources.

Omega’s IAQ management plan will include IAQ checklists for building staff and provide documentation for recordkeeping. If your occupants are returning to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a plan for maintaining indoor air quality will assist in monitoring and preventing viral spread, as well as restoring confidence in a safe return to the office.

To learn more about our IAQ management or ambient air monitoring services, contact us through the link below.

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The Hazardous Building Materials Survey: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

The discovery of hazardous materials on a site slated for renovation or demolition – while not exactly a welcome event – can be a well-timed event preventing the risk of exposure to future building occupants and heading off the need for costly remediation of problems discovered too late for an uncomplicated resolution.

With a hazardous building materials survey (HBMS), potential buyers, property owners, and construction managers can head into a project without the risk of liability or budget-wrecking surprises and a plan for the safe, cost-effective and regulatory-compliant remediation of any environmental hazards.

From determining the presence of asbestos, lead, mold or PCBs in older structures, to unearthing hazards that may lurk in underground storage tanks or soil, a comprehensive hazardous materials survey is a critical and often required step in the process of demolition, renovation, or repair.

What is a Hazardous Building Materials Survey?

A comprehensive HBMS includes inspection of all suspect building materials and site features that could contain harmful substances. Asbestos, lead, mold and PCBs are among the most common hazards, particularly in older buildings, but a thorough assessment can reveal other universal wastes as well as a wide variety of other compliance, health, safety and liability risks.

At Omega, a comprehensive assessment for potentially hazardous materials can include:

• Asbestos Survey
• Lead Survey
• Moisture and Mold Assessment
• Collection and Testing of Drinking Water
• Inspection for PCBs in Light Ballasts, Transformers, etc.
• Fluorescent Light Assessment for Mercury
• Radioactive Tritium Assessment
• Radon Inspection
• Floor Drainage Inspection
• Assessment of Underground Storage Tanks
• Animal Waste Cleanup
• Evaluation of Hazardous Waste
• Flammable or Toxic Chemicals
• HVAC Assessment for Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)
• Inspection of Hydraulic Lifts, Electrical Transformers, Above-Ground Storage Tanks, and more

Our surveys are conducted by highly trained team members who are accredited, certified and highly qualified in their fields.

A completed survey includes a written report detailing the findings and analytical results of the assessment, along with site-specific recommendations for mitigation of any discovered hazards.

Pre-Demolition and Pre-Renovation Surveys for Worker Safety

Assessments for hazardous materials are a crucial component before renovation of both occupied and unoccupied buildings. They are also critical for sites slated for demolition because hazardous materials can become airborne during construction and demolition, posing a risk to occupants, workers and others in the vicinity.

When a recent pre-demolition survey to assess the risk of asbestos, lead, PCBs, mold, and other hazards in a structure slated for demolition revealed asbestos-containing materials (ACMs),  lead paint, mold growth, and possible mercury vapor emanating from fluorescent light fixtures, we recommended that the client work with a licensed remediation contractor to remove the materials prior to demolition to avoid the risk of exposing workers and other trades.

Reliable, Cost-Effective Assessment for Health and Safety

The Omega team works closely with our clients to review all potential hazards in preparation for renovation, demolition or new construction or to assess suspected cases of sick building syndrome in occupied buildings. The scope of the survey is based on numerous factors including the age of the building, materials known or suspected to be on the site, and any damage the building may have sustained. Based on these parameters, our team will develop a site-specific sampling plan and conduct a thorough investigation.

With more than 25 years of experience in environmental consulting and management for both the private and public sectors, the Omega team provides safe and cost-effective assessment, removal and remediation of numerous environmental hazards. Our team includes leading experts in toxicology, environmental engineering and industrial hygiene, among other areas of expertise

To learn more about our hazardous building materials survey, contact us through the link below.

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Smoke and Fire Expertise Puts Omega Scientist in the Thick of California Wildfire Season

The California wildfire season has arrived, running through October with the height of fire season occurring during the scorching months of July, August, and September.

An outlook report from the National Interagency Fire Center published on Aug. 1, noted a significant increase in fire activity throughout July as “fuels continued to dry across much of the West.”

Key factors such as low precipitation combined with high winds can increase the risk of fires. The risk level for significantly large fires throughout Southern California is currently at “normal” or “above-normal”.

Loss of life, property, and natural habitat is often thought of as the greatest risk of wildfire destruction. However, smoke that reaches beyond the perimeters of a fire can also negatively impact health and property. Wildfires will continue to become more frequent and powerful due to rising global temperatures.

At Omega, mitigating hazardous materials is our specialty. With a highly trained team of scientists, toxicologists, risk assessors, and other industry experts, we can assist in assessing and removing potential contaminants left behind by wildfires and wildfire smoke.

A Nationally Renowned Team

Whether it’s carcinogens, regulated metals, wildfire residue, or other biological or chemical pathogens, the Omega team has you covered. We have deep expertise in the assessment and remediation of environmental hazards for a wide variety of industries.

Among our team of experts is nationally known Dr. Richard Wade, Omega’s principal scientist and a leading expert in toxicology, environmental risk management, and the toxic aftermath of wildfires. With a long career in both research and academic roles, Dr. Wade is a former chief toxicologist for the San Francisco Fire Department, a former deputy chief for occupational health at Cal/OSHA and an adjunct professor at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Wade has also been a guest lecturer on environmental risk management at Oxford University, Harvard University, and more.

Dr. Wade specializes in technical consultation and mitigation strategies for some of the world’s most challenging contamination scenarios, including the aftermath of fires and explosions. When Omega is brought in to assess a large-scale disaster, Dr. Wade is our go-to expert. Here’s an example.

The Woolsey Mystery: Was the Ash Toxic?

On Nov. 8, 2018, late into the Western fire season, a grassy field at a Superfund cleanup site in Simi Valley, California went up in flames. Propelled by the 60 mile-per-hour Santa Ana winds, the fire quickly grew as it burned its way across the Pacific Coast Highway, ultimately consuming more than 96,949 acres of land.

The Woolsey Fire, as it was later named, destroyed countless homes, businesses, and forests. But the question remained: Did the fire spread hazardous materials? Did the ash that settled on homes miles from the fire pose a risk to human health?

Dr. Wade set out to investigate these questions on behalf of an insurance company that represented homeowners affected by the fire.

Destruction of Potentially Hazardous Sites

Destroying nearly everything in its path, the Woolsey fire downed powerlines, trees, structures, and even damaged a laboratory jointly owned by Boeing and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Established in 1946, the lab had previously been used for research and the testing of rocket engines associated with the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs; it had served as a site for testing nuclear-powered space vehicles and sodium coolant mediums. At the time of the fire, the site had been undergoing an assessment of radiation levels, along with laboratory testing of the soil and groundwater.

Given the potential for the release of contaminants from the laboratory and other burned structures, testing was required to determine if radioactive materials, asbestos, heavy metals, or complex organic chemicals had become airborne and traveled downwind during or after the fire.

Homeowners in the area were concerned about the potential presence of hazardous material at and around sites of burned buildings. Even the homes that remained intact could not escape a thick coating of ash that enveloped everything, seeping its way into houses to settle on artwork, carpets, desktops, and more.

Air and Ash Samples Reveal the Answer

Working alongside the local Air Quality Management District and the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Wade and the Omega team took dust and wipe samples of the wildfire residue deposits on surfaces in the affected areas, along with air samples to analyze them for physical and chemical composition.  The samples were analyzed for constituents such as heavy metals, asbestos, semi-volatile organic compounds, and alkalinity (pH) in addition to the wildfire components ash, soot, and char.

“The samples found no hazardous or radioactive materials in the ash,” Dr. Wade said.  “The vegetation that burned was not contaminated,” he added, addressing concerns over whether surviving plants had absorbed toxic substances in the soil. Dr. Wade established that radiation levels measured with a Geiger counter during the study were at or below background levels and were not considered to be a hazard.

A separate study by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control yielded the same results, finding that no radiation or hazardous materials from the Boeing lab were detected in the communities in the surrounding area following the fire. While the destruction of land and property was significant, the blaze did not pose any additional health risks, and the homeowners were safe to return and rebuild.

About Omega Environmental

Omega Environmental provides expert consulting services for a wide array of hazards and contaminants, including asbestos, lead, mold, and wildfire smoke. With more than 25 years of experience, our work for insurance companies, law firms, universities, construction companies, hospitals, and government agencies, among others, provides the highest-quality results for environmental health and safety, compliance and confidence. Give us a call or click on the link below to learn more.

Contact Us to Learn More About Environmental Assessment